Rome
Italy · Europe · 4.3M people
Ancient capital where history and chaotic traffic sit side by side.
Ranked #166 of 303 overall · 41.90, 12.50
Overview
Rome sits in Italy, on the European continent, home to roughly 4.3 million people. Its reputation is built on history, architecture and a dense cultural calendar. It has a reputation as a solid, practical choice for raising a family. People who choose to settle in Rome tend to point to a climate most people find easy to live with, solid infrastructure for remote work, and reliable healthcare as the deciding factors. Against its 103 tracked peers in Europe, Rome's 6.4/10 overall score sits 0.5 points below the regional average of 6.9, though a lower average score doesn't rule it out — it depends entirely on which criteria matter most to you. On CityMatch, Rome scores 6.4/10 overall across cost of living, safety, environment, transport, climate, healthcare and internet, ranking #166 of 303 cities in our database. Its strongest single criterion is climate at 7/10, while cost of living is its softest spot at 6/10 — the full breakdown, honest trade-offs, and who this city actually suits are below.
Full scorecard
Comfortable on a moderate budget.
No particular red flags.
No major pollution concerns on average.
Workable without being exceptional.
Reasonably comfortable year-round.
Standard care access, nothing exceptional.
Covers standard connectivity needs.
Is Rome right for you?
Set your own priorities and see where it ranks against every city in the dataset.
Run the recommender →How are these scores calculated?
Every city on CityMatch is scored 1-10 on seven criteria — cost of living, safety, environment, transport, climate, healthcare and internet — and those seven numbers are combined into the overall score shown throughout the site using a consistent, automated formula (an equal-weighted average by default, or your own weighting via the recommender tool). The same method is applied identically to every city, so scores are comparable across the full database.
Sources & data provenance
The current dataset is an internally curated starter dataset built for this version of the site, reflecting each city's general reputation on each criterion rather than a live feed from a single external provider. It is not yet sourced from a specific third-party API. If that changes, this section will be updated to name the exact sources in use.
Last updated: 17 July 2026
Strengths & trade-offs
Strengths
Climate scores 7/10 — genuinely pleasant weather is one of the clearer reasons people choose Rome.
Healthcare scores 7/10, a meaningful factor for families, retirees, or anyone planning to stay long-term.
Internet and connectivity score 7/10, making remote work a non-issue rather than a workaround.
Trade-offs
Cost of living is Rome's comparatively softest spot at 6/10 — still a workable budget, just not its standout strength.
Safety is the relatively lower of Rome's scores at 6/10 — solid in absolute terms, just not its top strength.
Is Rome safe?
Rome scores 6/10 on safety — solidly average. Nothing here suggests a specific red flag, but the usual big-city precautions (watching belongings, being aware at night) still apply.
At night
Nighttime is fine in most central areas, but it's worth checking which neighborhoods quiet down early versus stay lively and populated.
For tourists
Tourists are generally fine sticking to well-trodden areas; the usual advice about watching belongings in crowds and transit hubs applies.
For families
Safety, healthcare (7/10) and environment (6/10) together suggest a reasonable, if not exceptional, environment for families.
For solo travelers
Solo travel here is broadly fine with standard precautions; it's worth reading recent, specific traveler reports rather than relying on the city's reputation alone.
On public transport
Transport is reasonably safe day-to-day; late-night service quality and crowd levels are worth checking if you'll rely on it after dark.
Practical tips
- →Stick to well-lit, populated streets after dark, as you would in most cities.
- →Keep valuables out of sight rather than out of caution about any specific threat.
What's the climate like in Rome?
Climate here (7/10) is comfortably in the "fine, not exceptional" range — a normal seasonal cycle rather than anything punishing.
Seasonal character
Expect a normal four-season rhythm (or a wet/dry split closer to the equator), without extremes dominating the calendar.
Comfort level
Comfort is generally good, with the odd day or short stretch that calls for planning ahead rather than year-round ease.
Best time to live here
Shoulder-season months (spring and autumn, broadly) tend to be the safest bet if you can choose when to visit or move.
Note: this reflects our single aggregate 1-10 climate score rather than month-by-month temperature, humidity or rainfall data, which we don't currently track — treat it as a general read rather than a forecast.
Quality of life in Rome
Put together, quality of life in Rome is shaped less by any single number and more by the combination: rome tends to run at a calmer, more settled pace, the kind of rhythm that suits routine and family life more than nightlife, paired with an outdoor/environment picture that's generally favorable and transport that's genuinely workable.
Pace & lifestyle
Rome tends to run at a calmer, more settled pace, the kind of rhythm that suits routine and family life more than nightlife.
Nature & outdoors
Outdoor time is reasonably pleasant, with environment (6/10) and climate (7/10) scores that don't get in the way, without being a specific draw either.
Getting around
Transport (6/10) covers most needs reasonably well, with occasional gaps a bike or rideshare fills in easily.
Culture & leisure
Rome is specifically known for its cultural and historical scene — museums, architecture and a dense calendar of things to do are part of its identity, not an afterthought.
Based on its actual score profile, Rome tends to suit people who prioritize climate and healthcare over cost of living — see "Who Rome suits" above for the specific profiles that fit best.
How clean is Rome?
Environment scores 6/10 here, solidly average: no particular pollution concern, but not a headline strength either.
Public spaces
Public space quality isn't separately measured in our data; the environment score above is the closest proxy we have, and it points to an unremarkable, workable baseline.
Infrastructure maintenance
General infrastructure maintenance isn't a criterion we score independently, so treat any specific claims about road quality, public bins, or graffiti with caution unless they come from a recent, first-hand source.
The "environment" score behind all of this is CityMatch's single combined measure of air quality and general environmental conditions — 10 meaning consistently clean air, 1 meaning significant pollution. It doesn't separately break out waste management, noise, or visual upkeep, which aren't part of our current dataset.
Who Rome suits
Expat
Expats — expatriates relocating for work who lean on safety, healthcare and internet to stay settled and connected (fit score 6.5/10 here).
Young family
Young familys — households with kids prioritizing safety, healthcare and clean air (fit score 6.4/10 here).
Safety-first mover
Safety-first movers — people relocating somewhere unfamiliar who weigh personal safety above all (fit score 6.4/10 here).
Digital nomad
Digital nomads — remote workers who need fast internet and an affordable, pleasant base (fit score 6.5/10 here).
In depth
Cost of living
At 6/10 for cost of living, Rome lands in a middle ground where costs are manageable without being a bargain.
Safety
Safety here (6/10) is solidly average: no specific area to avoid categorically, but standard urban awareness applies.
Climate
Weather here (7/10) is reasonably pleasant most of the year, with a normal seasonal cycle rather than anything punishing.
Quality of life
What stands out about Rome is how even its scorecard is — no criterion drags the average down much, giving a global score of 6.4/10 built on climate as the high point and cost of living as the lowest. The average across all seven criteria is 6.4/10.
Transport
At 6/10 for transport, Rome covers the basics reasonably well without being a transit showcase.
Internet & remote work
Rome's internet score of 7/10 covers standard remote-work needs without much friction.
Why choose Rome?
The short version: Rome doesn't have a genuine weak point on our scorecard. Climate is its clearest strength at 6.4/10 overall, and cost of living — while relatively its lowest score — is still comfortably decent.
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Frequently asked questions
Is Rome safe?
Rome scores 6/10 on safety — generally fine, with the usual precautions you'd take in any mid-sized city.
What budget do I need to live in Rome?
Rome scores 6/10 on cost of living — a moderate budget is enough for a comfortable lifestyle, without it being a bargain destination.
Is Rome good for families?
Rome works well for families: safety (6/10), healthcare (7/10) and environment (6/10) average out to a strong combination for raising kids.
Is Rome a good city for students?
Rome isn't an obvious student pick: affordability (6/10) and transport (6/10) average out lower than the cities we specifically tag for students.
Is Rome suitable for digital nomads?
Remote work is possible in Rome, but it's not an obvious pick — internet (7/10) and cost of living (6/10) are less favorable than our dedicated digital-nomad cities.
What's the climate like in Rome?
Rome scores 7/10 on climate — a normal seasonal mix without real extremes.
Is Rome pleasant to live in year-round?
Largely yes — with a climate score of 7/10 and an environment (air quality) score of 6/10, Rome holds up well across seasons.
Is Rome a good choice for a first move abroad?
It's a reasonable choice for a first move: safety, healthcare, transport and environment average out to 6.3/10 here, a fairly forgiving combination for someone settling in for the first time.
Is the internet good enough for remote work in Rome?
Rome scores 7/10 on internet — generally fine for remote work, without being a standout choice for it.
Is Rome a good place to retire?
It has real appeal for retirees: healthcare, climate and safety average out to 6.7/10 here — the three criteria that tend to matter most for that stage of life.
What are good alternatives to Rome?
Based on continent, tags and overall score, Bordeaux and Bilbao are the closest matches to Rome in our database — worth comparing directly if you're still deciding.
Is Rome worth living in?
Reasonably — Rome scores 6.4/10 overall, a solid if unremarkable all-round profile. Whether it's "worth it" depends more on which specific criteria matter most to you than on the average alone.
Who should move to Rome?
Based on its score profile, Rome suits people who value climate and healthcare more than the average mover — see the "Who Rome suits" section above for the specific profiles (families, digital nomads, students, etc.) that fit best.
Is Rome walkable, and is public transport good?
Reasonably — Rome scores 6/10 on transport, covering most day-to-day needs without being a standout transit city.
What's the biggest advantage of living in Rome?
Climate is Rome's standout strength, scoring 7/10 — the highest of its seven criteria on CityMatch.
What's the biggest downside of living in Rome?
Cost of living is the clearest trade-off, scoring just 6/10 — the lowest of Rome's seven criteria, and worth weighing against its strengths.